Chettiar

The Chettiars also Chetty, Chetti, Setty, Chitty, Shetty and Shettigar is a title, commonly used by people of South Indian origin in India and abroad. It is usually derived from trading social groups. Famous members of this community are the owners of AVM Productions, the famous Tamil language film production company. Komatis also use the same title though they are Telugu language speakers and with intermarriages common its not rare to find the title Chetty among both Tamils and Telugus.

The community

The community has over the time flourished in agriculture and trade. The community is famous for its trade in spices and hotel industry with its chettinad chicken and fish curries which are extremely famous throughout south India.

Origin of the word

The linguistic origins of the word is derived from Dravidian linguistic origin. One theory is the root word is ETTI a Dravidian word that means 'look up, jump up or forward jerk and around simultaneously calling out to sell'. The obvious intention is to sell merchandise, to advertise/market loudly, to have an audience to sell their ware.

In Kannada and Tulu it is Shetty, Shettar and Shettigar. As in "Saetru Eeyar" meaning people who "collect and donate". Chettiars have been socially participative and benevolent. The community is also known for its culinary delights with its famous and exotic chettinad chicken and fish, a famous delicacy in Tamil Nadu.

Primary usage of title

As noted many castes of different ethnic origins use the title today. The foremost one in Tamil Nadu is Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars& Arivur nagarathar who are ethnically Tamil and originally hailed from Nattukottai region.

Other castes in Tamil Nadu using this are 'AAiyra Vysyar ethnic Tamil, orgin of Madurai region ; minority Telugu speaking Arya Vysyas' a subsect of Komati Settys from Andhra Pradesh , 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars, Vaniya Chettiar, Devanga Chettiar, Beri Chettiar, Ilavaniya Chettiar(Moopanar), etc.

Usage among various castes

Though the typical Chetty is conceived to be a trader, various social groups (non-merchant) sport this surname. In Tulu Nadu, Shettys are part of landed castes.

Most of the non-Tamil castes use it as an affix to their profession specific names. Telugus use it as in Komati Setty where Komati represents a name of the group and Setty represents a trade. Telugu, Kannada and Malayali weavers use it as in Devanga Chetty or Sali Chetty, where Devanga and Sali represent the name of the group.

Castes using the title

• 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar
• Devanga Chettiar
• Vaniya Chettiar A small group of chettiar families living in Chidambaram, Erode
• Agaram Vellan Chettiar
• Senai Thalaivar
• Kongu Chettiar
• Padma Saliar Chettiar
• Kuruhini Chetty
• Moundadan Chetty
• Sozhia Chetty
• Komati Setty is a not a part of other chettier as these setty's donot consume non-veg and origin is from aryan so the caste is named as "Arya Vysya"
• Telugupatty Chetty
• Elur Chetty
• Saiva Chettiar / Thiruvarur Vaguppu (Vellan Chettiars) A small group of chettiar families living in Andanapettai Village Near Nagapattinam and Nagore, Vellipalayam, Thiruthuraipondi, Marudhur, Vedaranyam, Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Chennai and Mannargudi.

See also

• Tamil diaspora
• Colombo Chetty
• Malacca Chitty
• Nagarathar
• Saliyar
• Kannda Devanga Chettiar Kannadadevangachettiar

External links

• Caste and Capitalism in Colonial India : The Nattukottai Chettiars, A Research by David W. Rudner submitted to University of California
• Nagarathar History Researched and Compiled by PL. Chidambaram
• OBITUARY REFERENCES (R.Ramanathan Chettiar)Available in the Indian Parliament website 20 December 1995
• Classic Chettinad: Home Alone by Outlook traveler Dt: JUL 2004
• Centenary celebrations of Dr Sir Rajah Muttiah Chettiar by "Daily life" Dt , Nov 25
• History of a trading community by "The Hindu" Dt 06/08/2002
• Life Sketch of SIR M.Ct. Muthiah Chettiar 1887-1929 in Hindu high school
• Rituals & Customs - Tamil Chettiar on Shaadi online
• A note about Chettiar origin Saiva neri website
• Sri Lankan Nagarathar Genealogy Website
• They leverage on easy access to credit by financial express Dt April 12,2004
• History of Chettiars Researched

References

    3. Asian Entrpeneurial Minorities, Christine Dobson, Curzon Press UK, 1996. A chapter in the book is devoted to the Chettiars who set up business in Burma.